The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
INDIGNANT WOMEN.

Confusion and Excitement at st. Stephens
Formerly DIR. McGIynn's) Church.
New York Special
While the organ was playing and the choir of
St. Stephens Church were singing the closing Of
the high mass on Sunday, and when nearly all
the congregation had passed from the Church
into the street, an uproar broke out at the west
side of the Twenty ninth street entrance which
caused panic for few minutes among those
who remained in the church. A crowd of several
hundred Pensioners were gathered at this en-
trance near which stands DR.. McGlynns confess
sional Since DR.. McGiynn left ST. Stephens
Church the confessional has been kept decorated
with flowers and vines of smilax. framed en-
craving of the former pastor occupied the center
Of the confessional. AS the present week is
Holy Week all the paintings covered, and
Dr. McGlvnns friends removed the brighter
bits of color from the confessional and replaced
them with drapings of white and caas. As the
usual throng gathered about the confessional
after high mass to- day the fact that the decora-
tions and picture had been removed excited in
dignant comment and while the discussion was
at its height several women entered the church
with bouquets and another picture of the former
pastor, and began again to decorate the confess
sional They were ordered out by the
ushers. but no attention was paid to the orders
Then the men seized the women. who resisted
and a struggle ensued. The women were pushed
and dragged toward the doorway, and one of
them said that man struck her and injured her
shoulder. The most persistent of the women
was former servant of DIR. McGlvnn, ard final
~ one of the ushsrs became so angry that be
struck at her with HIS fist and tried to force her
through the doorway. The woman screamed
and one OF the Pensioners caught the usher by
the throat and threatened to knock him down
if he touched the woman again. The indIcna-
ton of the women became so great that they
now lost all control of themselves and made a
mad rush at the usher. One of the men was
caught by his long beard. and the other women
pressed in from behind until the men were forced
from the church into the street Father Cotton,
the present pastor of the church. and several of
the priests who were still in the church tried to
pacify the crowd but the women were now
thoroughly excited and gesticulating wildly.
Their denunciations became more and moro I'M
pleasant, and finally the priests left them. The
flowers had been torn in the struggle, but the
women found the picture and restored it, and
then proceeded 20 redecorate the confessional
Other Pensioners now returned to the church,
and an exciting rush was made for the bartistry
to demand the return of the first picture that
had been removed The door was pounded on
but it resisted these efforts, and throng of the
women then went around to the rectory 10 see
the priests. They rang at the DELL but one
responded to the call In the meantime the po-
lice had been sent for. A number of the officers
arrived and qnieted the trouble. At last accounts
delegation of women were still watching the
confessional. The excitement in the parish is
great now as it was when Dr. McGlyrn was
first removed.